She nodded.
After assuring her that he and Fitz would be along as soon as they had dealt with Miss Bingley, he assisted Elizabeth into the carriage and sent her and her aunt and sisters on their way.
Fitz marched Miss Bingley into the Hursts' drawing room with her hands behind her back, then released her several feet away from Darcy. Her family looked on in shock.
“Darcy?” Bingley said with a question in his voice.
Darcy told Bingley how his sister had attempted to attack Elizabeth. He then informed him that she had been going around town claiming to be his betrothed and placing orders with various merchants in his name. Bingley and the Hursts stared first at Darcy, then at their sister, speechless.
"Darcy, Fitzwilliam, I apologize," Bingley said. "I do not know what has come over her."
"I appreciate your apology, Bingley, but it is not enough. Your sister is obsessed with me. You remember the conversation we were having when she suddenly arrived in Hertfordshire. What you do not know is that she attempted to break into my bedchamber that night," Darcy said.
Bingley's mouth fell open as he spun to face his sister. "Caroline!"
Miss Bingley simply looked away with an unconcerned expression.
"You informed her, did you not, that Elizabeth, Georgiana, and I wanted nothing further to do with her?" Darcy asked.
"Yes, I did."
"Well, she disregarded it. Miss Bingley addressed me almost as soon as she noticed my presence in the shop. Of course, that was before she tried to attack Elizabeth with a makeshift weapon!" Darcy said heatedly. “Bingley, your sister is mentallyunstable. Miss Bingley needs to be kept away from society because she is clearly a danger to others. You should also know there were other patrons in that shop who witnessed everything. This will become known.”
Visibly deflating at this news, Bingley solemnly replied, “I shall see that she does not cause further harm, especially to Miss Elizabeth. You have my word, Darcy.”
Darcy gave a brief nod, then he and his cousin left directly.
Once he and Fitz were seated back in the carriage and headed to Gracechurch Street, they both sighed.
“Never a dull moment, Darcy.”
Darcy shook his head. “Indeed.”
“I feel sorry for your friend. That sister of his has always been trouble. Evidently, she is mad as well. I wager he is kicking himself for letting Jane go now,” Fitz said.
“I think he has been doing that for a while.”
“Is that so?”
Darcy nodded.
“Well, he will meet someone else. Maybe he will finally choose to suit himself rather than his family," Fitz said. The next moment, a wide grin appeared on his face. "Now that I have expressed compassion for his plight, let me say how fortunate I am that his loss has been my gain!”
Darcy chuckled. “How generous of you.”
“Yes, thank you! His loss has indeed been my gain, and I hope before long will be my bliss.”
“Indeed?”
“I have tried to delay a bit, cousin, so as not to be on the heels of your own proposal, but I cannot wait much longer,” Fitz said.
Darcy looked at his cousin shrewdly. “Do not think to catch up to Elizabeth and me in order to share our wedding day!”
“That is exactly what I am trying to do! Do not think that I do not know what you are about with this wedding in four weeks' time. You are trying to run off with your bride to Pemberley before the weather can prevent you!”
Darcy laughed.
“Do not be so stingy, cousin!” Fitz said, chuckling. “This period of courtship has its charms, but I do not wish to languish in it ‘til spring!”
